Robin Trower. One Of The Greats Quiz

Answer: The Paramounts

The Paramounts were a UK beat group primarily known as being the fore-runner to Procol Harum. The beginnings of the band are not very clear. They were either a band originating as "The Raiders" in 1959 (which included future Procol Harum band members Chris Copping & Robin Trower) that was formed while the members were at secondary school OR they were one of rock music's first "manufactured" bands formed by the organizers of a band competition who formed a band using the best musicians participating in the contest and called "The Paramounts".

The first line up of the actual Paramounts included Chris Copping, Robin Trower & Gary Brooker. Gigs were difficult for them to get as Gary Brooker was only 14 years old at the time, so shows first occurred at Robin Trower's father's cafe, which eventually became "The Shades Club". BJ Wilson eventually joined the band as their drummer and their musical direction changed from R&B to soul. By 1963 they were playing London more frequently, where they were eventually signed to the Parlophone label who released the band's first single - a cover of the classic "Poison Ivy". The single actually charted, reaching Number 35 on the UK Singles Chart which in turn led to TV appearances (notably 'Ready Steady Go'). While their second and third singles failed to chart, the B side of their third single featured a track entitled "It Won't Be Long". This song was the first song written by Trower & Brooker to be released. The band disbanded in 1966.

Answer: False

The original guitar player for Procol Harum was Ray Royer. He played on this track, their first single release (as did session drummer Bill Eyden), which was released on May 12, 1967. The song was a world-wide hit. Robin Trower and BJ Wilson did not join Procol Harum until the band recorded the follow up single "Homburg" (which they did play on, as well as the band's debut album, which was recorded in 1967, but not released until 1968) later in 1967.

Answer: Jude

Of all of the legendary unrecorded bands out there I'd have to say that Jude is in my personal top five list of "bands I would like to hear what they sounded like before I die". What an amazing combination of talent! The best you'll find, if you google "Robin Trower Jude" is a photo of the band rehearsing :-(. Based on what precious few accounts are out there they were very similar to Led Zeppelin, musically speaking. The following is a quote from Robin that he made during an interview with 'Guitar Magazine' in 1993: "I got together with Frankie just to write with him. Where we went wrong was trying to put a band together. The original idea was the best idea - I was going to be a bit like a Steve Cropper with Otis Redding. Frankie brought in Jimmy Dewar on bass and Jimmy joined me later when I did the three-piece thing". Ok... I'm all over that speaking for myself! The track "I Can't Wait Much Longer" on Robin's debut album "Twice Removed From Yesterday" is credited to being written by 'Trower/Miller'. That is probably the closest we are ever going to come to hearing what Jude MIGHT have sounded like.

And btw: Robin DID actually form a band called "The Jam" in 1966 with completely different members than Jude.

Answer: Robert Fripp

Robert Fripp and Robin Trower are actually great admirers of each other, Robert often praising Robin's use of his bends and the quality of his sounds. At one point early in Robert's career he actually took guitar lessons from Robin! Sorry, but there is not much more info about this to be found.

Answer: Fender Stratocaster

Whilst in Procol Harum Robin showed a preference for Gibson Les Paul guitars. But during an early tour with Jethro Tull Robin arrived early to a soundcheck and saw Tull's guitar player Martin Barre's Fender Stratocaster leaning against an amp and he picked it up and started playing it. According to legend he yelled "This is it" and immediately switched to Fender Stratocasters (which Fender now custom builds for him) from that point on!

Answer: For Earth Below

While Robin was an incredibly popular live act in the seventies oddly enough his album sales were not as huge of a draw as his concert performances were! The highest charting album he ever had (in the USA - his primary market as far as his popularity is concerned) was 'For Earth Below', which went to number 35 on the US album charts in 1975! Hard to believe, but true.

Answer: Bryan Ferry

Robin Trower was a featured guest guitar player on the following three Bryan Ferry albums: 'Taxi' in 1993, 'Mamouma' in 1994 and 'Dylanesque' in 2007.

Answer: Jack Bruce

In the early eighties Robin teamed up with former legendary Cream bassist and singer Jack Bruce to form the Bruce, previous Robin Trower Trio drummer Bill Lordan to form Bruce, Lordan, Trower (aka 'BLT') to record 'BLT', after which Bill Lordan was replaced by the OTHER drummer from the Robin Trower Trio, Reg Isadore, with whom they recorded 'Truce'.

This is totally my personal opinion, but I felt (and to this day still feel) that these two records are amongst the worst albums that both Robin and Jack were ever involved with. For my ears these albums were major disappointments and flat out dull. If you are wondering where to ever start with Robin do NOT start with these two albums!

Answer: James Dewar

Of all the people who were regular collaborators and members of Robin Trower's bans most fans would agree without hesitation that James Dewar is the most sorely missed. His soulful and deeply emotional vocals were the perfect match for Robin's soulful and deeply emotional guitar playing. Rarely has there been such a match made in heaven in rock music. James Dewar (12 October 1942 - 16 May 2002) was a Scottish musician who started as the bass player for the wonderful Stone The Crows.

He was then chosen by Robin as part of the unrecorded band Jude and then taken into the Robin Trower Trio for Robin's most successful and beloved musical adventure.

Answer: Time And Emotion

'Time And Emotion' is Robin's first album released on his own label 'V12', on May 5, 2017. The album has received some of the best reviews since his early seventies heyday and has been called one of hi best records ever by fans and critics. The album features Trower (vocals, guitar, bass); Livingstone Brown (bass, keyboards); Chris Taggart (drums). Praise such as "Robin Trower is back with perhaps his best solo album since he was in his 40s... considering Robin is 72, that is saying a lot! It is not that Trower's recent efforts are not worthy, but rather that his latest release time and emotion is so damn good." is the norm, not the exception.